Die-block.



- PATBNTED AUG. 18.l '1908.

R. PORSYTH. DIE BLOCK.'

APPLIOATION FILED APB, 1, 190B.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. FORSYTH, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM FORSYTH & SONS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM.'

nin-BLOCK.

No. ecgva.

Sp ecication of Lettersfrlatent.

Patented Aug. 1s,'. i9os.

Application mea April 1, 190s. serial No'. 424,532.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. FoRsYTH, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements in Die-Blocks, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of wood blocks for supporting material that is being operated upon by cutting or punchmg dies, and it relates especially to that type of such blocks comprising a plurality of sections Which are glued or cemented together.

Heretofore it has been common to employ dowels or tongue strips tting recesses or grooves in the adjacent faces of adjoining sections, in order to prevent relative movement of the sections under the pressure of the cutting or punching dies in use. Difficulty has been experienced in forming the recesses or grooves so that they will accurately register. Furthermore, the strain of use tends to break the glued joints because the strain comes on the dowels or tongues in a direction transverse to the grain of the latter.

In this connection, it is to be borne in mind that die blocks of this type receive their greatest wear on the up er surface at or near to the center of the entlre block, leaving the extreme margins relatively unworn so that the upper surface of the block becomes quite concaved. It is customary then to turn the block over and use the other side. When so turned over, the concavity existing on the under side causes the central portion of the block to be without support and therefore the pressure of the cutting dies or punches tends to bear down the central portions and break the glued joints.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved structure of the die block in which slipping, in case of excessive strain on the glued joint or joints, is resisted by portions of the wood presenting the grain endwise instead of by dowels or tongue strips which present the grain in a direction transverse to the direction of pressure. By my improved structure I insure greater uniformity and durability in the block as a whole. The objections heretofore existing turning the block over. Eventually the' block as a whole, becomes relatively thin. By my improved structure I'provide roper support for the sections of the die bloc 4even when the block, as a whole, has been reduced in thickness down to an excessive point. j

, My invention consists in forming the sectional die block so that each section presents a shoulder or offset portion to a similar shoulder or offset portion of the next section, the shoulders or offset portions meeting or opposing each other so that strain of use at the joints is transmitted solely in the direction of the grain of the sections.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of complete die block embodying my invention, a portion being broken out to more clearly illustrate the direction of the grain of the Wood. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the sections shown in ig. 1.

The die block, which is shown as a whole in i Fig. 1, is composed of a plurality of sections a, each of which is formed with substantially vertical side faces b and c which are in different vertical planes so as to form a transverse shoulder d preferably at a point midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the section. The section shown in Fig. 2 is provided with two such side faces b c d, but as indicated in Fig. 1, it will be understood that the outer sides of the extreme outer sections of the block will not have such oset ortions. When the sections, of which t ere may be any number, are Jiitted together, as indicated in Fig. 1, and with glue or cement applied to their abutting sides, the sections are usually then bound together by suitable bolts passing through them, or by a band inclosing and binding together the entire series. I have not illustrated such bolts or band as they form no part of my present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be readily understood that the shoulder d, presented at the upper end of the projecting portion b, opposes the downward thrust of the similarly formed projecting portion of the next section `to the right. And of course the projecting portions b b of the two abutting sections present the grain of the wood together endwise; that is, in the direction of the length of the grain. Since wood of the nature usually employed for making die blocks is less yielding in the direction of the grain than in a transverse direction, a die block constructed according to my present invention is less liable to have a tendency to break the glued joints under pressure of use than if any of said pressure were impartedto any portion of the wood in a direction transverse to its grain. It is to be understood of course that l ldo not limit myself in any way to the number of sections comprising the block7 nor to the particular adhesive that may be employed. By the term glue I mean any suitable adhesive. And I do not limit myself to the exact formation of the abutting sidesof the sections, since the formation ofl said sides may have any contour desired so long as there is a direct opposition presented by a portion of one section to strain transmitted by a portion of another section, the

. surfaces which oppose relative movement presenting the grain solely endwise.

I claim:-

1. A die block "comprising a plurality of I wood sections, having their abutting sides formed with surfaces which cut the grain of the wood, said surfaces directly opposing each other whereby strain in use at the joints.

is transmitted solely in the direction of the grain of the sections.'

2. A die block comprising a plurality of wood sections having their abutting sides formed with shoulders substantially at ,a right angle' to the grain of the wood, said abutting sides being glued together, and the shoulders directly opposing each other whereby strain in use at the' joints is transmitted solely in the direction of thegrain of the sections.

In testimony whereof l have affixed 'my signature,'in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM R. FORSYTH.

Witnesses:

TERENCE C. CARBIN, MINNIE LANE. 

